Fireproof structure.



No. 735,335. PATBN'TBD AUG. 4. 1903.

C. S. BIRD. FIREPROOP STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 8, 1902. H0 MODEL.

FEL. 7 6' ers of other material to form a iireprooing PATENT Fries.

CHARLES S. BIRD, OF EAST WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIREPROOVF S TRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,335, dated August 4, 1903- Applicetianiiled eeemb'er 8, 1902.

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BIRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Walpole, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Structures, of which the following is a speciiication reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in iireproofing structures.

One object of the invention is to so construct a reproong structure of fibrous material that a succession of air-compartments is `formed at lboth sides of the structure, whereby comparatively small areas of the material are in contact with the outer layers.

Another object of the invention is to so construct ireproofing structures of brous material having air-compartments that these compartments may yield in some degree to the expansive action of air under increased temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide fibrous reprooing material with aircompartments of similar shape at both surfaces.

The. invention consists in a sheet or layer of fibrous material impregnated with iireproofing compound and having the peculiar air-compartments. y

The invention also consists in such other novel features in the construction of the iireproofing material whereby the objects of the invention are carried into effect, as shall hereinafter be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l represents a plan view of a portion of the improved iireprooiing structure or layer. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same as preferably used between layor re-retarding structure. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of two layers of the improved structure to more Serial No. 134,242. (No model.)

tended to so support the freprooiing layers that the action of the iire may be resisted and its progress retarded. \Vhen the exterior layers of the compound structure are of wood, it is important to resist the charring action of the attacking flames and to maintain the intermediate layer in condition to retard the passage of heat to the unattacked outer layer. Intermediate layers of fibrous material carrying iireprooiing compounds when placed iat between two outer layers of Wood are attacked by the heat penetrating the wood before the woodis actually burned away7 and are so charged that when the wooden layers are partially burned away they offer but slight resistance to the action of the flames. In carrying this invention into practice it is my object to so construct a fireprooiing strncture adapted among other uses to be utilized as an intermediate layer in a compou nd strueture that large bodies of air may be interposed between this inner layer and the outer layers and that the areas of contact between the inner layer and the outer layers may be small as compared with the area of air maintained against the outer layers and 'while allowing for the expansion of the air under heat while preventing such undue circulation oi' the air as would tend to ignite a charred portion.

ln the drawings, 5 represents a portion of a sheet or web of iibrous material,` usually formed of paper-stock or similar comparatively cheap material, impregnated in the course of manufacture with a freprooin g compound, preferably with phosphate of alumina. ln this sheet or web 5 are pressed or formed a series of air-compartments 6 6 at one side of the sheet and 7 7 at the other side thereof, these compartments projecting from the bands 8 8 in a series of convex pockets having closed ends 9 9 and arranged in lines, the compartments of one line being staggered in relation to the compartments of the adjacent lines and the compartments 6 6 at one side of the sheet being in intermediate position relative to the compartments 7 7 at the other side of said sheet. When the structure thus formed is placed between the outer layers Cll and b, a series of air-bodies lie between the compartments 6 6 and the inner surface of the layer h and between the compartments 7 7 and the .inner surfaceofthe layer a, while the areas of contact between the convex, surfaces of the several compartments and the inner surfaces of said outer layers are'comparatively small and widely separated.

Under the action of iire the4 maintenance of the comparatively large areas of air against the inner surface of the outer layer a, or b tends to reduce the temperature of this portion of the outer layer, while at the same time these interposed bodies of air insulate comparatively large areas of the intermediate sheet 5 from the action of the heat transmitted through the outer layers. The air as it expands under the action of the heat may pass. into the channels formed by the bands 8 8; but any excessive movement oi the air is interrupted, owing to the formation' and relative position of the compartments, and it is evident that the compartments may expand and contract with the changes in temperature.

Aside from the maintenance of the bodies of air insulation between the inner layer 5 and the outer layers a. and b, this layer 5 further acts to retard the action of the re by reason of the comparatively small areas of contact between its'main body and the outerl layers a. and b, and it is apparent that practically all lthe points of contact between the sheet 5 and either of the layers a or b might be charred through without materially affecting its office as a fire-retarding medium, as the main portion of the sheet would be held together by those portions more nearly adjacent tothe other layer a, or b, as the case might be, and theseportions would be less affected bythe action of the ire owing to their angular disposition.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to sec 'by Letters Patent- 1. A fibrous ireprooiing-sheet having a series of elongated contact portions arranged in rows and having convex end portions.

2. A fibrous fireproong-sheet having a series of air-compartments arranged in rows, the compartments of one row being staggered with relation to the compartments of the adjacent rows.

3. A iibrous iireproong-sheet having a series of air-compartments and alternating contact portions,the air-compartments being connected by a channel.

4. A ibrous iireproofing-sheet having a series of contact portions extending from each side thereof and forming air-compartments at the opposite sides, each of said contacts having a reduced end. l

5. A fibrous fireproong-sheet having a series of channels and a series of air-compartments extending from said channels.

6. A fibrous iireprooflng-sheet having a series of parallel channels and a series of aircompartments arranged between said channels.

7. A fibrous fireprooiing-sheet having a series of channels, and a series of air-compartments and alternating contact portions between said channels.

8. A fibrous ireprooiing-sheet having a series of short corrugations arranged in rows the corrugations of one row being staggered with relation to those of the next row.

9. A iibrous fireproong-sheet having a series of comparatively short convex contact portions having reduced ends, and alternating concave air-compartments arranged in rows, the air-compartments being connected.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

-- CHARLES S. BIRD.

Witnesses:

HENRI E. DAVENPORT, JOHN J. SPILLANE. 

